Fluid supply apparatus



I E. P. DENIGAN 2,331,462

FLUID SUPPLY APPAR ATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR[aware A Den/yaw gay-L422 4 FLU-ID SUPPLY APPARATUS Fileduan. 20, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Oct. 12, 1943. R DENIGAN 2,331,462

FLUID SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 26 g/ I E.28 I I I y 55 5g 47 52 55 5a .52 1F j 117 i 1} #374 34- 47 46 57 -T 4652 Z7d'g24 1 55 (52 77 70. 4 1 6.5 70/ 77 A 4 Z; 15 66 6g 67 Z5 70 51'70 J ISA. 3'8

, J6 27 .54, a; 64 61 68 J5 59 A! 59 Patented Oct. 12, 1943Blaw-KnoxCorhpany, Pittsburgb Pal, can.

poration of New Jersey Application January 20, 1942, Serial Ne. 42%.43311. Claims. (01.. s==171 This invention relates to apparatus forsupplying fluid under pressure to a system of distribution pipes. Theinvention is of particular utility in a two-pipe, lubricant-distributionsystem but its application is in no Wise limited thereto.

Fluid distribution systems such as the aforementioned two-pipelubricating system have come into extensive use. Conventional means havecustomarily been employed for delivering fluid under pressure and forconnecting the pipes sufficient for the purpose but present severalobjections from the standpoint of practicaloprating conditions. Usuallythe pump is motor driven and is, controlled by an automatic timer and achange-over switch for operating" the transfer valve magnetically. It isthe object of my invention, therefore, to provide an improved apparatusfor delivering fluid under pressure-alternately to one of twodistribution pipes, which is simple and relatively inexpensive inconstruction, is entirely self-contained, unitary and coinpact, andoperates to developthe desired pressure efficiently, without requiringexcessive maintenance nor, indeed, any attention at all iraurematiccontrol is provided therefor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a pump-and-valvemechanism including a body portionsurmounted by a storage container orreservoir for the fluidto be delivered. The body of the apparatusis-pre'ferably op'eriat the top and the reservoir open at the; bottom,

thus insuring free communication therebetweer'i. 1

The body is bored to provide pump cylinders. A control valve is alsoincorporated in the body and connectingpassages between the pumpcylinders and the valve are cored or otherwise formed in the wall of thebody. The valve is-preierably of the sliding-piston type and I provide'electro-magnetic operating means therefor particularly suited forautomatic control; Pistons reciprocating in the pump cylinders may beopenwhich refer to the accompanying drawings fillustrating the preferredembodiment briefly outlined above. In the drawings,

V Figure 1 is a plan viewshowing the -P 1 411- 1 Figure 3 is having apiston I 3 re'cipr v 1. ii ect on an infz naisecl qna iew aka on .the'plans (if line 111 111 or Figure 2 fi ure 3A is apartial section similarm- Fi u e 3 showing certain p as in alternate p'o pens;

i e s; a rt ai ec'tm t k in the pan of line'l v 'lv of Frg [e' 1 nd isu'1$ Y'l'ii idal v i l k inlbi 3 .6 1. ofl ne v-=v of Fliil f g R fe in owi l l t he -Wh pu p 'fi fdw ve maha i ln o m .i er t indicatedgenerallyat mand is adapted. to er fluid, e'. g. a lubricant such asgrease, to one of two distributiojnpipes' 'H' and 1'2; he mechanismljO'. includesqa piste 4 which serves-ina'mann'er to belsipia 'rrdjfully hereinafter, to .cd ne'cft the aper or the pump proper toone orthe" other of the' pi pes l l and r2.- The valve 1 3is;rejeiprocate'dfrom" one extreme lpo's'itio'n' to' use otherbys'olenoid's 114 tan ar 1:9 mbuntejd" on apase 20; An auxiliary atedmanually or may be power driven. Ihe I supporting leg'2l'is secure tothe body] aand to thefbase. A motor Z2 mpu ted on the b "e -2}:

drives a' ge'ar reducer also disposedonl e e. .Th lQW-SP b Shfi 9f. h reu e :h s a cr nk 24; thereon; A link 25 is pivoted' ;to the crank zeanuto" rocker ni aon a shafted journaledinthebody Hi; 'Whenthe motor 22 isrunning, ,merrore; the" sea-n12 oscillates bask The body f6: is sernwfirbewi shaped and ha s a relatively thibleritfi; "Thesha-f a einserted-1h a ea-reverse bore"throughthe hody near the'bot-'t'oinlthereof until its' i'nner erid enters a socket borediiriabossrflu; llt'is secu'md by' a keeper ring 128*, the inner .edgezof'.enters a groove 29- turned', in i the surface 3 of- :the :shaft. "Theeir- .terio'r ntireow h a amtz urfa .28a; dapt d to receive the ring zfiwhich is held in place ;by

s rews '30. A p c n n is ;5 ;n e in a counter-borewithinthesurface18a. V

Cylindrical-bosses; 3,2 project jnwardly jrom g rib fi the light thebosses 32 are counter-bored and tapped to receive closing plugs 34. Apiston 35 has its ends slidably received in the cylinders 33. The piston has a reduced central portion 35. An arm 31 secured to shaft 21 by apin 31a is rounded and bifurcated at its upper end, providing spacedbearing portions 38, one on each side of the reduced portion 36 of thepiston, adapted to engage the spaced shoulders 39 formed by the latter.By this construction, oscillation of the shaft 21 causes reciprocationof the piston 35. i

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the body I6 is open at the top and thereservoir H is open at the bottom. The reservoir comprises a cylindricalshell 40 secured to a flange 4| upstanding from the body [6, by screws42. As shown in Figure 2, the shell 40 has a cover 43. An indicator stem44 is reciprocable through the cover 43 and is supported by a disc 45,the lower end of which bears on the surface of the fluid within thereservoir, thus indicating the volume of fluid contained therein at anytime.

By virtue of the construction of the body It and reservoir l'l describedabove, the interior of the body is maintained fullof fluid at all timessince it is in direct communication with the reservoir. The ends of thebosses 32 are slotted as at 46 to provide inlets through which fluid mayflow into the cylinders 33. As the piston is withdrawn from eithercylinder, a vacuum will be created therein because of means to bedescribed later. When the end of the piston clears the slot 46, fluidwill immediately fill the cylinder.

Outlet ports 41 are drilled into the periphery of the body I from belowand communicate with the counter-bores at the outer ends of the cylinderbore. The outlet ports are counterbored as at 41a to form seats for ballcheck valves 48. These valves are held against their seats, subject todisplacement by fluid discharged through the outlet ports, by springs 49carried in plugs 50 threaded into the counter-bores 41a.

The wall of the body l6 has a radial bore or cored recess 5| providing acommon outlet or relief valve chamber. Cored passages or ducts 52 in thewall of the body communicate with each other through the chamber 5| atone end and with the counter-bores 41a respectively at their other ends.the chamber 5| and the interior of the body [6. A relief valve 54 isnormally maintained seated against the outer end of the port 53 by acompression spring 55 on the stem of the valve indi- A relief port 53communicates with grease when the inlet 46 is uncovered, as shown in theleft hand portion of Figure 4.

The piston I3 is slidably disposed in a cylinder 60 bored transverselythrough the wall of the body l6, preferably parallel to the cylinders33. A vertical passage 5| connects the cylinder 60 to the chamber 5|.Outlet or delivery ports 62 and 63 are drilled through the wall of thebody I6 and communicate with the cylinder 6C: at points spaced along thelength thereof. Bypassing or return ports 64 and 65 also communicatewith the cylinder 60 at points spaced outwardly of the ports 62 and 63and with the interior of the body l6.

The piston l3 has a snug sliding fit with the cylinder 60 at its two endportions 66 and 61 P and a middle portion 68, but is of reduceddiamcated at 56. The spring bears on the inner end of the chamber 5| andon adjusting nuts 5'! threaded onto the outer end of the valve stem. Aplug 58 closes the outer end of the chamber 5| and is recessed at 59 toreceive the end of the valve stem. It will be apparent that the valve 54opens through the passages 52 to the chamber 5|. The

check valves, of course, prevent reverse flow of fluid on withdrawal ofthe piston from either cylinder. When the check valve is closed,withdrawal of the piston from the cylinder creates 75 a vacuum in thecylinder, causing it to fill with 'eter therebetween. The end portions66 and 6! are sufliciently long to provide for packing rings 69 toprevent entrance of dirt. They are inserted from without and are selfretaining. Small grooves 10 are turned in the close fitting portions 65,61 and 68 of the piston |3. These fill with grease and are effective inkeeping the piston in alignment and lubricating it within the cylinder60.

It will be apparent that when the valve |3 is in the position in whichit is shown in Figure 3, the fluid delivered by the piston 35 will flowfrom the chamber 5| through the passage 53, thence through the portionof the cylinder 50 between portions 61 and 68 and thence through theoutlet port 63 to pipe l2. At the same time, the pipe II and outlet port62 are in communication with the by-passing port 64 through the portionof the cylinder 60 between portions 66 and 68. This feature is ofparticular importance in two-pipe, pressure lubrication systems since itis desirable, in such systems, to relieve the pressure on one pipe whensupplying fluid to the other pipe.

When the piston I3 is in its other extreme position, as shown in Figure3A, the pipe II and outlet port 62 are in communication with the passage6| through which fluid is delivered from the chamber 5| by reciprocationof the piston 35, and pipe I2 and outlet 63 are in communication throughby-passing port 65 with the interior of the body I6.

The solenoids I4 and I5 for reciprocating the piston l3 include coilsassembled in a frame 12 carried on studs 13 extending upwardly from thebase 20. Cores 14 reciprocable through the coils are connected toopposite ends of the piston by cables 15 trained over sheaves 16. Thesheaves are journaled on brackets 11 secured to the body l5. By thisconstruction, it will be evident that energization of the coils of thetwo solenoids alternately will cause the piston I3 to move back andforth between its extreme positions. The vertical positions of thesolenoid coils may be changed by adjusting the nuts on the studs 13 sothat the piston will be in the proper position at the end of its strokein both directions.

The solenoids will usually be energized alternately by a suitablechange-over switch operating at the end of each pumping operation. Thepump is usually controlled by an automatic timer to operate for apredetermined period at definite intervals, say a few minutes out ofeach hour. A typical control system is disclosed in application Ser. No.427,434 of William H. Venable, filed J anuary 20, 1942.

The reservoir 1 maybe filled by removing the cover 43 with the stem 44and its disc 45. I make will be raised as the filling progresses.

' It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the inventionprovides a fluid-supply apparatus having numerous advantages overprevious arrangements for delivering fluid under pressure to adistribution system. The device of my invention is simple, compact,unitary and entirely self-contained. The construction is such that thedevice may be manufactured'at relativelylow cost by simple machiningoperations and conventional foundry practice. The pump and valvecylinders as well as their inter-connecting passages are easily formedby drilling straight through the body or by cores in the castingthereof. The pump piston is insertable through either end of its boreand the crank for actuating it may be fitted after insertion into thebody from either the top or through the hole in the bottom for thebushing 18.

The device is Well suited to manual operation as well as to a powerdrive. The piston 13, for example, may easily be actuated by a manuallyexerted pull on the cables or a handle or knob may be secured to one endof I3 instead of the cables and solenoids at both ends; and the shaft 21may be oscillated by manual effort applied to the crank 26 if the linkis omitted.

A continuous supply of fluid is maintained at the inlets 46 of thecylinders 33 because of the construction and relation of the body l6 andreservoir I1. By incorporating the transfer or reversing valve and therelief valve in the body of the device, I eliminate numerous jointswhich would be necessary if these parts were separate, which isadvantageous because every joint in a high-pressure system is apotential leak. As already stated, the transfer valve operates torelieve the pressure in the pipe other than the one to which fluid underpresure is being supplied. The bottom-filling connection is desirablesaid body, a piston having its ends slidably dis-' posed in saidcylinders, respectively, discharge ducts leading from said cylinders,respectively, to an outlet chamber, a transverse valve bore through the.body in communication with said chamber, outlet ports intersecting saidbore at points spaced therealong, and a valve piston reciprocable insaid bore adapted, in alternate positions, to connect said portsselectively to said outlet chamber.

2. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a bowlshaped body open at the topand surmounted by a' reservoir, coaxial cylinders bored radially in thebody wall, a piston having its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders,respectively, discharge passages extending from the outer end of saidcylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, a transverse valve borethrough one side of said body, a connecting passage from said chamber.

to said bore, outlet ports extending-through the body wall andintersecting said valve bore at points spaced therealong, and a valvepiston reciprocable in'said bore and adapted to place said connectingpassage in communication with said cylinders extending from said riminteriorly of said body, a piston having its ends slidably disposed insaid cylinders, respectively, inlet ports adjacent the inner'ends' ofsaid cylinders, outlet ducts in said circumferential rim leading fromthe outer ends of the cylinders, respectively, to an outlet chamber, apair of outlet ports extending into said body, and a valve in said bodymovable from one extreme position to another and effective in eachextreme position to connect one of said outlet ports to said chamber.

4. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a hollow pump-and-valve body,opposed, coaxial cylinders extending interiorly of said body, a pistonhaving its ends slidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, inletports adjacent the inner end of said cylinders, outlet ducts leadingfrom the outer ends of the cylinders, respectively, to an outletchamber, a relief valve disposed in said chamber and opening into saidbody, a pair of outlet ports extending into said body, and a valve insaid body movable from one extreme position to another and effective ineach extreme position to connect one of said outlet ports to saidchamber.

5. A fluid-supply apparatus a defined by claim 3 characterized by returnports opening into said body, said valve being effective to connect toone of said return ports the outlet port other than the one connected tosaid chamber.

6. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a bowlshaped body open at the topand surmounted by an open-bottomed reservoir, diametrically oppositebosses projecting inwardly of said body, said bosses havin a boretherethrough providing opposed co-axial cylinders, a piston having itsends slidably disposed in said cylinders, inlet ports adjacent the innerends of said cylinders opening into the interior of said body, dischargepassages extending through the wall of said body from the outer ends ofsaid cylinders, respectively, to a relief-valve chamber, a spring-closedvalve in said chamber opening into the interior of said body, a valvebore through the wall of said body adjacent one side thereofcommunicating with said chamber, outlet port extending into the Wall ofthe body and intersecting the valve bore at points spaced therealong,return ports intersecting said valve bore at points spaced therealongand opening into the interior of said body, and a valve slidable in saidvalve bore between alternate extreme positions, said valve beingeffective in each position to connect one of said outlet ports to saidchamber, and the other outlet port to one of said return ports.

7. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a pump-and-valve body open at thetop and surmounted by an open-bottomed reservoir, a cylinder extendinginwardly of the wall of said body, a piston reciprocable in saidcylinder, a relief valve chamber in the wall of said body and spacedfrom said cylinder, a passage through the wall of said body from theouter end of said cylinder to said chamber, outlet ports extending intothe wall of said body, and a valve in said wall effective to place saidoutlets selectively in communication with said chamber.

8. A fluid-supply apparatus comprising a p'ump-and-valve body open atthe top and surmounted by a reservoir, opposed coaxial cylinders open attheir inner ends to the interior-of said body, a piston having its endsslidably disposed in said cylinders, respectively, discharge ductscommunicating at one end with said cylinders, respectively, and incommunication with each other at their other ends, outlet portsextending into said body, and a valve in said body movable from oneextreme position to another and eiiective in each extreme position toconnect one of said outlet ports to the intercommunicating ends of saidducts.

9. A fluid-supply apparatus as defined by claim 8 characterized by eachof said cylinders having an inlet port open tothe interior of the bodyand reservoir and so positioned adjacent the inner end of the cylinderthat the inlet port of a given cylinder is uncovered when said pistonmoves to it extreme retracted position relative to a said cylinder.

EDWARD P. DENIGAN.

